This is the Reliquary Head of Saint Yrieix - by Tony Karp and is the star of Tony's exhibit at the Waddell Art Gallery. There is an opening night reception on Monday, October 22, 2007. The show runs from October 22 - November 16.

You can find out more detail here.

It really is the head of Saint Yrieix and we used to see it in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

So what exactly is this thing I call Techno-Impressionism. One could describe it as photography that has become art. In some instances such as the one you are looking at now you can't even tell that it started out as a photograph. The artist has removed, the sharpness, exposure, color accuracy and tonality. Actually Tony has taken all these qualities and used them to make something totally different.

It is striking, interesting, something you want to look at and let your eyes explore.

You want to know how did he do that? Over the years Tony has learned to use technology as his darkroom, his brushes, his virtual canvas. For this image he has actually created a virtual frame for the image.

Techno-Impressionism is actually about complete control and total freedom to go down any path all at the same time. But to be able to create an image like this you have to be a master of the technology. You have to understand what each tool you use does in terms of your image. Which ones work on the exposure, which ones allow you to play with the color accuracy until you see something you like. The most fascinating thing about Techno-Impressionism is that it's ever changing because the technology and artist's mastery of it continually has to evolve.

When people ask Tony if he makes limited editions he always says "why would I?" I am always working on something new, always playing and finding something different and interesting to do. A new camera will take me down a different path, sometimes it is a larger format printer, a bigger screen or a new piece of software. It is all fascinating.